Roller-skate



(No Model.)

B. J. WORCESTER.

ROLLER/SKATE.

No. 307,826. Patented No'v 11, 1884.

N. PETERS, Phaloblbognphof, Wish-pun. 11c.

Martha STATES ROLLER- Farnnr @rrrea.

SKATE.

115 part of Letters Patent No. 307,826, dated November 11, 1834.

Application filed January 23. 1894. (No model) To (1.77, whom, it nor/.7 concern:

Be it k nowu that I, EDWARD JWVORCESTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at YVoreester, in the county of KVorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Roller-Skates, of which the following is a specification, with accoin panying drawings illustrating my invention, and in which Figure 1 shows a side view of a skate with the nearest rolls removed. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the roll-supporting frame on line mm, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detached view of the rollbearing and lover E. Figs. 4 and 5 show different views of the roll, and Fig. 6 is a sectional View of the same.

Like letters refer to like parts in the several views.

My invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts, where by the footrest may be rocked or inclined laterally and the direction ofthe skate changed, as hereinafter set forth; also, in the mode of attaching the rolls to the skate; and, further, in the construction of the rolls themselves.

A is the top or foot-rest, and B B plates se cared to the under side of the foot-rest, having the depending roll-supporting frame consisting of the lugs a a, holding the pin 0-, which has a head, b. and a screw-thread, c, entering the lug a. Upon the pin 0 the sleeve D turns, having on the lower side, and at right angles thereto, the socket F, and on the upper side the lever E, both rigidly attached to the sleeve E. The socket F receives the inner ends of the steel pins (Z (Z, which form the bearings for the rolls, the heads cl d preventing the rolls from coming off. The inner ends of the pins d d are halved and overlap at c, and are both firmly held in the socket by means of the ta pered pin f, which passes through the line of contact of the halved ends of the pins d d,- or, instead of the overlapping ends, the pins (1 (I may be made to abut each other, and a pin 1 passed through each of the pins (Z d. The lever E has a slot, g, at the end embracing the rod h, which is attached to the screw G, and entering ahole in the center of the screw G. The screws G and G are held in the frame, or in lugs projecting from the platesB B, and are arranged in the same axial line, and

on the pins 0 0, each placed at oppositelyinclined angles to the foot-rest A, so that the rocking of the foot-rest on the pivots O C will cause the axes of the rolls to vary their angle with the line of motion of the skate, making the rolls on one side to approach each other. and causing the skate to move on a curved line. This peculiarity of construction, however, I do not claim as new, for it has long been in use. As the footrest is inclined to one side the spiral spring on that side will be compressed and its tension will return the footrest to a level position when the force inelining it is removed.

I form the rolls by uniting several disks of rawhide and leather together, as follows: Placing adisk of rawhide on each side of the roll, as shown at J J in Figs. 5 and 6, and forming the central section of the roll of one or more disks of leather, according to the thickness desired, as at K K, the disks are then firmly pressed together, either with or without glue or other adhesive material between them, and the screw-threaded rods 2' t are inserted entirely through the several layers of rawhide and leather. I

I am aware that rolls have been heretofore made of rawhide, also that rolls have been made in which rubber or some elastic material has been compressed between outer and inclosing washers; but my mode of construction varies from any of these methods, whereby I secure several advantages not possessed by them.

The peculiar texture of leather has been recognized as furnishing a very desirable outer surface of skate-roll, it being sufficiently hard to withstand the pressure of the skaters weight, and its elasticity and fibrous character affording a slight friction or clinging to the surface of the floor, especially when used in the form of disks; but when the entire roll is so formed the abrasion soon wears away the corners, as the fibers of the leather are not Ioo sufficiently cohesive and firm, and when metallic inclosing washers or disks are used their sharp and unyielding edges cut off the fibers of theleather. I secure the advantages of the leather roll by using outer washers of raw hide or some similar semi-elastic substance, the central disks of leather being slightly larger than the disks of rawhide, and the face of the roll may be slightly crowned, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The porous nature of the inner layers of leather surrounding the spindles d d also absorb the oil, plumbago, or other material used as a lubricant.

I do not claim, broadly, the use of a lever, E, attached to the joint; but

What I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with the roll-bearings of a roller-skate pivoted on a pin, 0, held in lugs a a, depending from the foot-rest, of the lever E, springs H and H, resting against the ends of the screws G G, and adj Listing-screws G G, all arranged substantially as set forth, and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination, with the roll-bearings of aroller-skate pivoted to the foot-rest, and having a lever and actuating-springs, substantially as described, of adj listing-screws and springsupporting rod attached to one of said screws and entering a central hole in the other adjusting-screw, as and for the purpose set forth.

The combination, with the foot-rest of a roller-skate, of roll-bearing spindles, with their inner ends entering sockets suitably attached to the foot-rest, having said inner ends halved and overlapping, with a retaining-pin passing transversely through the inelosingsocket, and also through the line of contact of the overlapping spindles, as and for the purpose set forth.

at. The within described roll for rollerskates, consisting of a central section composed of one or more disks of leather, inclosed by two outer disks of rawhide or similar semi-elastic material, said inclosiug-disks being slightly smaller than the disks forming the central section, the several disks being suitably joined together, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The roll for roller-skates, consisting of a central section composed of one or more disks of leather having two outer and inclosing disks of rawhide or similar semi-elastic material, with the screw-threaded rods 7; i, extending through the several disks and firmly joining the same together, as and for the purpose set forth.

EDWARD J. WORCESTER.

Vitnesses:

Burns BENNETT FOWLER, GEO. E. SMITH. 

